The film "Zero Effect" - the debut project of Jake Casdan, a hereditary filmmaker. Now he is shooting mostly TV shows. His father is better known - producer, screenwriter, director Lawrence Casdan (he wrote the script for the famous "Bodyguard" and several parts of "Star Wars"). The young director invited Bill Pullman and Ben Stiller to the main roles. The first, i.e., Bill Pullman, plays the mysterious detective Daryl Zero (Zero), and the second - his assistant.
The plot of the picture "Zero Effect" echoes one of the stories of the great British Conan Doyle about his legendary hero Sherlock Holmes. This is the “Scandal in Bohemia”. At that time, Holmes and his faithful companion Watson were entrusted with a rather delicate case of blackmail. It was during the investigation of this scam, because of which one crowned person could suffer, the detective collided with
Irene Adler, who has a remarkable mind and infinite charm. The “zero effect” does not fully follow the original. However, the misanthrope detective is present. Bill Pullman did a good job of playing the role of an eccentric genius who eschews people. He does business “indirectly”, communicating with clients through his secretary. Pulman was remembered by fans of thrillers and psychedelic creations by David Lynch on the set in one of the most mysterious films of the master “Highway to Nowhere”.
Cases of bygone years
The action takes place in Portland. Daryla is hired by a wealthy older man named Gregory Stark. They are blackmailing him, and they require a large amount. The attacker is agile and sophisticated. However, when the detective begins to understand who and what is stalking Stark, he already doubts whether to confirm his reputation as a master of investigation, or to side with the criminal. The fact is that once in the past, Stark was literally obsessed with the girl Jess, who accused him of violence. An enraged gentleman hired a killer and destroyed his former lover. She, however, managed to give birth to a daughter. It is Gloria, the daughter of Gregory, who is the fruit of that tragic love and blackmailer. The case has stalled, not without reason the tape is called “Zero Effect” (of course, there is a roll call with the name of the main character).
Premiere was in Cannes
The role of a man with a dark past, Stark, was played by Ryan O'Neill, an American actor with a rich filmography and an Oscar nomination for his supporting role in the legendary film Love Story. It is curious that his daughter Tatum managed to surpass her father: she was awarded the Oscar for her work in the crime comedy Paper Moon. There were only 10 daughters, and Ryan himself played the main role. "Zero effect" is a rare case when Ben Stiller was assigned a role that does not require constant comic strips on the screen. One has only to recall the endless "Fockers", all the "Nights at the Museum", "Duplex" and other comedies in which he participated. True, he was able to show what he is capable of as a director and a great artist in "Soldiers of Failure." It was a sharp satire on Hollywood, highly praised by critics and loved by the public.
The premiere of "Zero Effect" was held at the Cannes Film Festival in 1998, but it did not produce a big effect (sorry for the tautology). Although the idea itself was good, it was apparently not possible to bring it to life.